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 Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:10 pm
Setsushi nods slowly, apparently towards Jilan. Publicly, he agrees with Jilan that it will be up to Setsushi and Kouyo to relay information about the Golden World and to discuss the matter of portals. At the same time he sends a private feeling of agreement to Kouyo -- indeed, it is up to them, and perhaps they will decide not to share that information.
Setsushi smiles at Xiao Huo's remark. Setsushi got the impression that almost everyone in Gaia is an alien in some way or another... Everyone comes from his own interesting world. It's exciting to meet so many different people, isn't it? He sends a warm feeling to the little boy.
... ... ... And then wonders if he has been eating anything other than toast. Bread is nutritious and all, but... what about vegetables? He needs to get his five colors after all... sweatdrop
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:46 pm
Jilan looks like a Porcelain, but he does not want to go home. Maaaaybe he wants to stay and be a Sorcerer like Kumoru in Gaia? Xiao Huo swings his feet a little and watches the others around the table.
The older boy watches Kouyo leave, then glances at Xiao Huo briefly before deciding to study the tabletop instead. Jilan's home is here, really. He was born somewhere else, not in the Golden World and not in the Silver World, either, and he does not want to go back there.
He... kind of wants to be able to help everyone else get home, though. But Jilan knows that also means he might end up alone here again.
Kouyo stands, privately telling Setsushi that they should pay careful attention to what, specifically, the mage wants to know. He gives off a feeling of interest in what Jilan says, but then he turns and retreats back behind the screen to the private side of the house.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:51 pm
Setsushi thinks that indeed there is no reason Jilan should be eager to go back to the Golden World; it wouldn't be going 'back' for him, after all. Jilan's desire to stay in his home is as natural as Setsushi and the others' desires to go home.
But Jilan won't be alone; he has his family, and there are many other Porcelain who live in Gaia, aren't there? And many nice young ladies, too, who are young-but-old like Jilan...
Err, anyway. Setsushi watches Kouyo leave, then glances at Xiao Huo; would the little one like something? Perhaps he would like to look at Setsushi's picture books? 3nodding
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:10 pm
Jilan blushes and fidgets. Aaah, yes, but he has not seen some of them recently. Or one in particular. But... Jilan worries that he may have grown apart from her after all this time. ... Them. From them. All the girls.
He would not mind seeing the Golden World, though, if he has the chance.
Xiao Huo giggles and points. Does his brother have a girlfriend?
One good thing about being stuck in Gaia is that he is stuck here with Jilan. Xiao Huo has no big brothers to tease at home.
... Picture book? Okay! More interesting than grown-up talk, that's for sure.
Kouyo returns a few minutes later with a thick book, which he hands to Jilan. He thanks the boy for allowing him to borrow it, then settles back down in his previous seat. He keeps his gaze fixed on Jilan, though, even as he rests his cheek on his palm and his elbow on the table, turning his head sideways and closing one eye in an effort to quiet the renewed throbbing of his bruise.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:15 pm
Setsushi is sure the ladies' interest in Jilan will be renewed, in due time.
Setsushi also ducks behind the screen, to retrieve some of the manga he read while learning Gaian. He returns with Kouyo, a hand on his friend's shoulder in case the headache unsteadies him, then delivers the book to Xiao Huo in parallel.
The Gaian in this one is easy, he explains to Xiao Huo, opening the book to point it out. And there are lots of pictures, so even if Xiao Huo can't understand the characters he can follow the story. Should Setsushi help him with it for a little bit?
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:31 pm
Jilan retrieves his zither case and opens it up, taking out the instrument and setting it on the table. The boy glances between the zither and the High Priest across the table as he works on tuning the strings; Kouyo is apparently further questioning him privately, though Jilan has some difficulty keeping his answers completely private.
Kumoru has been his father in Gaia for as long as Jilan can remember ... he was brought here by another Porcelain, though ... he has not seen the other Porcelain man in quite some time ... He is fairly sure that the same man brought all of the Porcelain like Jilan here, though, and he has not seen any other Porcelain since then until he met Setsushi. Well, and the ones in the Silver World. ... And he and the others like him are from a place called Dragonlamp, why?
When Jilan is satisfied with the tuning job on his zither, he falls silent and starts picking out a tune on it quietly.
Xiao Huo picks at the strings a few times until Jilan swats him away, then tries to pay attention to Setsushi. ... Does this mean Setsushi is going to read him a story? biggrin
Kouyo gives off more vaguely troubled feelings when he is done questioning Jilan, and just tries to listen to the boy's playing for now. He then privately asks Setsushi how much he heard of what Jilan said.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:40 pm
Setsushi answers privately that he heard some of it, and that he has actually heard similar stories from some of the other Gaian Porcelain. Did Kouyo deduce something important?
Although privately worried, he smiles at Xiao Huo. Setsushi is going to read him some of the story, but not all of it. Xiao Huo has to learn to read himself in order to finish it, though Setsushi will help him with that, too.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:46 pm
No, not really. Not yet. They probably will need to wait until they can speak with Kumoru to learn much more.
Why does Xiao Huo have to learn to read Gaian? As soon as he's going home, he won't see things written in Gaian anymore.
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Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:50 pm
Setsushi inclines his head slightly to Kouyo, then asks Xiao Huo: Will he really not? Perhaps the Empire will be grateful to this country for taking care of its little ones and establish a diplomatic relationship; Xiao Huo would have an advantage over all the other Porcelain in the Empire if he learned Gaian already.
And even if he doesn't use it in the Empire, he can learn to read the labels on food. That will help him avoid things that make him sick. sweatdrop Setsushi was suffering horribly until he learned the language...
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:05 am
... So Xiao Huo has to start school already now that he's in Gaia? Back at home all he has to do is play.
He crosses his arms and pouts, but admits after a few moments that maybe Setsushi is right and there might be some benefit to it. He does not feel like learning any today, though, so just read him the book please.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:10 am
Fine, lessons can begin later. But the sooner Xiao Huo learns the better; once he's a master of Gaian he can help himself to a thousand adventures in the pages of Whitestone's store's books.
He moves his chair next to Xiao Huo and holds the book open for both of them, trying not to break the spine too badly. So the story begins...
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:20 am
[...]
By the time Kumoru arrives, Xiao Huo has drifted off to sleep with his head on the table, having more or less enjoyed the story Setsushi read him. Or he at least enjoyed the pictures. The boy has his dolls clutched one in each hand, with the third one sleeping on his knee where Jilan put it.
Jilan is similarly tired out, and sits in his chair turned so his back is resting against the wall. Done with the zither for now, the boy works on reading more out of his Anthology of High Priests' Writings, glancing up at Kouyo occasionally to meditate on how weird it is to now know someone whose writings he read more or less for a historical literature class sweatdrop
Kouyo is pacing out the dimensions of Setsushi's house again, and goes to fetch the Knight as soon as he hears the mage knock outside.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:41 am
Setsushi looks up from tending a pot of vegetable soup, nods to Kouyo and prepares himself -- at the same he wipes his hands and straightens his clothes, he organizes his expression and mind, making himself elegant and cool, a face that might be interpreted as polite or reserved.
He then makes his way to the door to greet the visitor: "Welcome, Kumoru," he says warmly, not showing any nervousness that he might be feeling.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:59 am
Kumoru steps inside carrying several old-looking books and bows to Setsushi.
"Thank you for keeping an eye on these two today," he tells the Knight, then nods to indicate the sleeping child. "Especially that one. He got very bored in the shop this morning."
Jilan sets his book aside and walks up to hug his father quickly, then offers his hands if Kumoru needs help with carrying anything?
Xiao Huo was good for the rest of the day, Jilan assures Kumoru. Especially after he fell asleep.
Kouyo steps up beside Setsushi after completing the last of his measurements, lightly resting a hand on his friend's arm as he draws close.
"Hello," he says softly, looking the mage over.
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Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:04 am
Setsushi bows his head a little and smiles; it was really a treat to get to chat with them. Kumoru is welcome to send them over whenever he wishes.
Setsushi has some food almost ready -- would they like to eat first and then begin? he asks generally, to Kouyo as well as the human mage.
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